Background: Stroke patients have dosiflexor weakness. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) for motor and sensory threshold stimulation has been applied to patients with stroke. Objectives: To investigate effects of FES intervention for motor and sensory threshold on balance and gait in subacute patients with stroke. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: In all, 34 patients with subacute stroke were recruited and randomly assigned to the motor threshold (MTG, n=17) and sensory threshold group (STG, n=17). The measured variables were static balance (BioRescue), dynamic balance (BBS), and gait (TUG test). The study period was 5 weeks, twice a day, 5 days a week. Results: There was a significant difference in all variables except the speed variable (open eye Romberg test) after the intervention; MTG improved more significantly except for the speed variable of the Romberg test (open eye). BBS score increased significantly only in the MTG group after the intervention, and the increase was more significant in the MTG group than in the STG group. The TUG test significantly decreased in both groups after the intervention, and the decrease was more significant in the MTG group than in the STG group. Conclusion: FES for motor threshold applied to patients with subacute stroke appears to be more effective in improving balance and gait ability than FES for sensory threshold.

Background: Recently, a new method of dysphagia rehabilitation using Kinesio taping (KT) has been attempted and demonstrated an immediate increase in the activation of the suprahyoid muscle during swallowing in healthy adults. Objectives: To investigate the effect of dysphagia rehabilitation using KT on the thickness change of the suprahyoid muscle in patients with dysphagia after stroke. Design: Two-group pre-post design. Methods: In this study, 20 patients with dysphagia after stroke were enrolled and assigned to the experimental and control groups. The experimental group applied KT to the front of the neck and repeatedly swallowed against the tension of the tape. On the other hand, the control group performed repeated swallowing without applying KT. Patients in both groups had swallowed 50 times a day/5 times a week for 4 weeks. For evaluation, the volume of the geniohyoid, mylohyoid, and digastric muscle was measured before and after the intervention using portable ultrasound equipment. Results: As a result of comparing the two groups after the intervention, the experimental group showed more volume increase in mylohyoid (P<.05) and digastric muscle (P<.05) than the control group. Conclusion: This study proved that suprahyoid muscle resistance exercise using KT is effective in increasing the volume of the suprahyoid muscle.

Background: Patient-centered care has recently become highly recommended, because it can improve health outcomes more effectively than problem-oriented care. The goal attainment scale (GAS) is one of the methods used for patient-centered care. It was originally developed as an outcome measurement tool, but it can also be used as a therapeutic intervention when setting quantifiable patient-centered goals. Objects: We sought to identify the effect of setting patient-centered goals on rehabilitation outcomes in patients with subacute stoke using GAS. Methods: Overall, 46 subjects with subacute stroke were divided into experimental (n1=23) and control (n2=23) groups. Subjects in both groups attended physical therapy sessions five times a week for four weeks. Those in the experimental group set goals using goal-attainment scaling. The mobility of each subject was evaluated using the Rivermead mobility index (RMI); daily-living activities, using the K-modified Barthel index (K-MBI); participation, using the Hopkins rehabilitation-engagement rating scale (HRERS); satisfaction, using the patient-satisfaction scale (PSS). Results: Subjects in the experimental group experienced more significant increases in RMI, HRERS, and PSS than those in the control group (p<.05, p<.05 and p<.01, respectively). After four weeks, GAS scores of the experimental group had increased more significantly than those of baseline (p<.01). Conclusion: Setting patient-centered goals is effective in improving the mobility and satisfaction of patients with subacute stoke. Setting patient-centered goals needs to be performed more frequently in clinical settings.